top of page
The adult flies slowly with weak seemingly unsteady wing beats.
It is one of the boldest butterflies, though, protected as well as it is from predators by a very nauseous chemical.
When attacked it plays dead and exudes an obnoxious yellowish fluid from glands in the joints of the legs. (Like all butterflies protected in this manner, the Coster has a tough exoskeleton which enables the adult to survive a few pecks of a bird or even the bites of a lizard.)
Once left alone the adult immediately takes off and resumes its uncaring flight.
Diet: caterpillars feed on the leaves, young shoots, tendrils and the outer surfaces of young shoots of Passiflora edulis plant.
Avg. Body Length: 53–64 mm / (2.1–2.5 in)
Avg. Wingspan: 53 - 64 mm / 2.1 - 2.5 "
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta, Order: Lepidoptera
* Being Brush-footed butterflies, Costers have a short pair of fore legs that are used to taste food, and two pairs of longer rear legs that are used for propulsion.
The single biggest threat to butterfly survival is habitat destruction!!
bottom of page